IOA hints at conspiracy, says Narsingh defeated by his own

The wrestler thrown out of Olympics and handed four-year ban after court of arbitration for sports overturns all-clear given by India’s anti-doping agency

The Court of Arbitration for Sport accepted World Anti Doping Agency’s plea and has banned Narsingh Yadav for four years.(PTI Photo)

Dejected by the four-year ban slapped on Narsingh Yadav, the Indian Olympic Association has said the wrestler was “defeated by compatriots” rather than opponents.

Narsingh’s was on Thursday ousted from the Olympics and banned for four years for failing a dope test after court of arbitration for sports (CAS) overturned the clean chit given to him by India’s national anti-doping agency (NADA).

“It’s not a just loss for Narsingh at the court of arbitration for sports but he was beaten by his compatriots who did not want to let him compete at the Olympics and not by his opponents,” IOA secretary general Rajeev Mehta told PTI after the CAS verdict.

“The picture is clear and neither I nor anyone has to say who’s done the foul play. If you go back, you can easily connect the dots and would clearly know who could be the suspect.

“As of now, the culprits have been successful in stopping him from the Olympics, though we may challenge the order and minimise the ban. It’s a loss for the country.”

Hinting at a conspiracy, Mehta said, “We must go deep into the matter and the government should initiate a CBI inquiry into the matter. It’s not a small thing, it’s plaguing our country’s sport and we must nip this in the bud.

“Days after he won the battle at the Delhi high court, a phone call came from his SAI centre in Sonepat about some doping activities, the raid happened and his sample was found positive. It cannot be sheer coincidence.”

The world anti-doping agency (WADA) had appealed against the NADA all-clear to Narsingh at CAS, three days ahead of his opening bout at the Olympics.

Mehta was part of the four-hour long marathon hearing here. The verdict marked a painful end to the sordid saga that began with the wrestler failing a June 25 test.

The embattled 74kg category grappler has maintained all along that his dope test was a result of conspiracy by rivals who spiked his food or drinks.

Having grabbed the quota by virtue of his world championships bronze in Las Vegas in 2015, Narsingh’s road to Rio was fraught with obstacles after he was named to represent India ahead of double Olympic-medallist Sushil Kumar.

Two-time Olympic medallist Sushil dragged him to the Delhi high court which ruled in favour of Narsingh.